LogFAQs > #946633005

My wife and I may be taking a multi-month "vacation" of sorts to the Pacific Northwest, and right now Seattle is getting the hardest look. Without diving into the back story, we will be in the position where she can keep working remotely at her well-paying job while also getting a retention bonus which should make the finances manageable. We want this to serve as a transitional period for us to do something we've never done before we move and "settle down", as they say.

Without really knowing anything about the city as of this point, I guess the insight I'm looking for is as follows:
--What's the cost of living like? We aren't too worried about finances, but it's worth knowing if I should be prepared to get a part-time job for the 2-3 months we would be there or if we should be very mindful of our budget.
--Where should we consider looking for housing? This is still in the preliminary phases, but as far as a general area to set up shop, what should we consider? Is living in the city proper worth it? Is it easy to get into the city from the suburbs, preferably without having to drive a vehicle very far? Are there any "destination" living spots that we could consider looking into?
--Are there any culture shocks that a couple of lifetime Midwesterners should be aware of?

I dunno. I'm just looking for any information on a part of the country I've always wanted to go to, however am nervous now that I'm being presented with the reality that it may be possible and for an extended period of time. I think there are a number of people in this community that inhabit the Seattle area, or the PNW in general that I thought I could gain some knowledge here.

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snowpork
azuarc is OP.